Sunday Voting Part Two

Based on current polling conducted by Landmark Communications as well as based on election results from demographics groups in previous election, it is our analysis that Sunday voting resulted in approximately 5,500 net additional statewide votes for Democrats over Republicans.

“We were pleasantly surprised to learn that our first foray into Sunday voting was an apparent success. The number of votes cast this past Sunday was higher than the average number of votes cast on weekdays thus far in the early voting period, despite the fact the polling place was open roughly half as long on Sunday as it has been on weekdays,” said Colin McRae, chairman of the Chatham County Board of Registrars.

Statewide as of Monday morning, 440,554 votes had been cast since early voting began, with 12,643 from Sunday voting.

McRae said the board will take up the question of whether to continue Sunday voting as the board’s budgeting process plays out.

“I cannot predict how the board will vote on the matter, but the apparent success of this year’s effort provides pretty telling evidence that Sunday voting is a worthwhile accommodation to the voters of Chatham County,” he said.

Earlier this month, in an effort to help make Sunday voting an annual occurrence, the Savannah branch of the NAACP launched its Souls to the Polls campaign, which encouraged local clergy to encourage their congregations to vote immediately after church on Sunday.

Souls to the Polls is part of a three-phase campaign for the NAACP, which also includes voter registration and educating voters about current issues and candidates.

The NAACP also follows up with newly registered voters, provides absentee ballots and provides free transportation to and from polling locations.

“All people have to do is call us. We’ll pick them up and wait while they vote and then return them home,” Shinhoster said. “… But I’m definitely happy with the turnout on Sunday. It worked out well for us.”

Voters in need of transportation to the polls can call the NAACP office at 912-233-4161 to arrange a ride.

The discrepancy between the Landmark numbers and those quoted in the Savannah Morning News are likely mail-in ballots that were entered into the system and dated Sunday.

Voters in Cordele will decide in two weeks whether to allow the sale of alcohol on Sundays.

It’s hard to believe that legalizing Sunday alcohol sales could deter crime, but one commissioner says it would prevent bootleggers from stocking up on Saturday night to sell on Sunday.

“The main thing is to let the people vote on it and decide if that’s what they want. Or what they don’t want,” said Council Chairman Zack Wade.

Wade is personally against Sunday sales, but feels a democratic approach is the best way to solve the issue.

Another commissioner who is strong proponent, believes it could even knock down alcohol-related crimes.

“It would deter crime cause on Sunday’s we have people in the community that are selling alcohol illegally on Sunday because the liquor stores and beer stores shut down,” said Commissioner Royce Reeves.

Grady County residents have the opportunity to allow beer and wine sales on Sunday’s. The Grady County referendum asks voters “Shall the governing authority of Grady County be authorized to permit and regulate package sales by retailers of malt beverages and wine on Sundays between the hours of 12:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.?”

The referendum mainly impacts liquor and convenience stores and possibly a restaurant or two in the county that sell wine and beer. If passed, those who operate within Cairo will still fall under city ordinances and not be able to sell beer and wine on Sundays.

John Monds, a Cairo resident and a Libertarian candidate for the Georgia Public Service Commission, approached the Grady County Commission in March about putting the issue before the voters.

“The state had passed laws to let counties decide if they wanted alcohol sales on Sunday. I thought it was ridiculous to have those kinds of restrictions in Grady County,” said Monds. “I thought it should have happened a long time ago.”

However, he believes the referendum should have pertained to all alcohol, not just beer and wine.

Vote against Bear Hunting Measure or Bears will kill you for jelly donuts

Reports filed with the state show that the Maine Wildlife Conservation Council has raised more than $2.25 million to try to defeat the ballot question. Pro-referendum group Mainers For Fair Bear Hunting raised more than $1.6 million. The filings cover the reporting period that ended Oct. 21.

The referendum would ban the use of bait, dogs and traps to hunt bears. Proponents say the hunting methods are cruel. Opponents say the ban would devastate Maine’s outfitters and guides and hurt tourism. The measure is on the ballot on Nov. 4.

Maine’s Yes on 1 campaign released a letter to their opponents on Monday, asking them to stop what they’re calling “fear-mongering advertising” in reference to a new television ad that features a woman who was attacked by a bear in Florida.

“Your campaign’s advertisements stoking ungrounded fear about black bears are beyond the pale of civil debate,” Katie Hansberry, director of the Yes on 1 campaign, wrote to James Cote, director of the No on 1 campaign. “In particular, your assertions in the ads run against the private thinking of the very ‘experts’ that your campaign is asking the voters to believe.”

The No on 1 campaign and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife state that if the referendum passes and these three hunting methods are banned, the state will not be able to manage Maine’s growing black bear population.

“Bear attacks have been on the rise across the country for the past couple of years, and we’ve seen a lot of them this year,” James Cote, director of the No on 1 campaign said. “That’s the end result of a poorly managed bear population … It’s a major reason for people to vote no.”

New Ebola Quarantine Rules in Georgia

Governor Deal has taken steps to ensure that Atlanta remains the epicenter of saving Ebola patients rather than spreading the disease among the population. From WSB-TV:

We are taking every necessary precaution to ensure that Georgia stands prepared to manage the risks associated with Ebola,” Deal said.

Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is one of five airports in the U.S. that is a designated point of entry for travelers from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

“I have developed, in coordination with my Ebola Response Team, a policy to more aggressively monitor travelers from affected countries, symptomatic or not, and quarantine if need be. We are taking these proactive steps to protect the health of the people of our state, and this new policy is an altogether effective and appropriate response at this time,” Deal said.

Previous policy for West African travelers required checking for symptoms and isolating any symptomatic passengers. In accordance with Deal’s plan, travelers who show no symptoms will be placed in one of three categories for further monitoring.

Category 1, high risk – Travelers with known direct exposure to an Ebola patient. Travelers in this category will be subject to quarantine at a designated facility.

Category 2, low risk – Travelers from affected area with no known exposure to an Ebola patient. Travelers in this category will sign a monitoring agreement with the Georgia Department of Public Health. This agreement requires travelers to conduct temperature and symptom self-checks twice per day and report results to Public Health once per day (electronic, email or phone contact acceptable). Travelers who fail to report during the 21-day incubation period will be contacted by Public Health and issued a mandatory quarantine order if necessary.

Category 3 – Medical personnel actively involved in treating Ebola patients returning to the United States. Individuals in this category will be issued a 21-day active monitoring order and will be visually monitored (video communications or home visit) by Public Health twice per day. Public Health will assess for the development of symptoms and adjust restrictions as necessary. Noncompliance will result in quarantine at a state-designated facility.

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